But I also knew that a promise made out of guilt would be another promise made for the wrong reason.
“I don’t know,” I told him honestly. “I need time to decide what I can give you without betraying myself.”
He nodded, though the disappointment in his face was unmistakable.
I leaned forward and kissed his forehead.
“Goodbye, Thomas.”
He closed his eyes.
“Goodbye, Elizabeth.”
I walked out of the room without looking back.
In the hallway, Daniel was waiting.
He looked at my face and seemed to understand that I had not given his grandfather the answer he wanted.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I know this must be difficult.”
I took his hand.
“You don’t need to apologize for something you didn’t do.”
He hesitated.
“Grandpa says you were the great love of his life.”
I looked at him gently.
“Perhaps I was. But a great love should not require one person to spend an entire lifetime paying for the other person’s fear.”
